Arts, music, P.E. safe for now; furloughs are still possible.

The Duval County School Board tentatively agreed to nearly $25 million in budget cuts Tuesday to help make up for the $91 million shortfall the district faces.

The board grappled with its budget crises for about three hours during a workshop meeting.

Items moved to the tentative cut list Tuesday included the elimination of 163 district-level positions saving $8.3 million, and the phasing out of magnet school transportation, which will save $2.5 million the first year.

The remaining $13.8 million in tentative cuts made Tuesday were the elimination of purchasing science textbooks except biology, pooling elementary students together for larger arts, music and physical education classes with specific implementation criteria, converting custodial staff to contract services and reducing the base allocation to schools while increasing the number of virtual classes.

Items were moved to the tentative cut list if at least four of the seven board members said they could support the cut. The board has to officially vote on the budget plans before cuts are made final.

Previously, the board agreed to about $9 million in smaller cuts, received about $6 million in relief on the state's class-size requirement and used $5 million from the district's fund balance.

The board also has plans to save $19 million from a combination of increased responsibilities for employee payments to their retirement and a one-time reduction in the amount the district has to pay into the retirement system, and another $12 million in savings can come from asking employees to pay more for health insurance.

That leaves the district with $14.7 million to find in its $1.7 billion budget, a significant portion of which is pre-allocated. The shortfall was caused by reduced state funding.

"I think we made excellent progress," Superintendent Pratt-Dannals said Tuesday. "This is very hard work and I want to commend the board for as far as we got."

Making tentative cuts wasn't the only thing the board discussed at the workshop meeting.

"We identified one of two things that we will not do," said School Board Chairman W.C. Gentry.

The board refused to reduce the instructional time for arts, music and physical education.

Other big ticket items like furloughs and eliminating supplement cost and transportation for all after school activities including sports and band were tabled while the district responds to board questions about its options in those areas.

Some board members talked about the possibility of a pay-for-play system for sports or allowing the community to raise the funds to pay coaches' supplements in sports.

Supplements and transportation would save the district about $6 million while furloughs would save $2.5 million a day for all employees.

The four-day school week wasn't discussed much and Pratt-Dannals said he didn't think it was feasible for implementation next school year.

The board will meet Wednesday, May 18 to again tackle the budget with supplements and furloughs being among the key discussion points.

Duval County Schools proudly lists these statistics on its website:
14,425 employees, 8744 teachers. Question: why does it take one support personnel for every teacher? How to save a few more million: eliminate some of those high-paid administrators and non-essential employees in this district. Why sacrifice educational programs and student services to save $$$? A good education is the foundation of a viable future for this community. Start at the top down for budget cutting, not from the bottom up. Arts, music, sports and up-to-date textbooks are critical to educating the total child. Pay now, or pay later!

just go ahead and double the taxes. that's what they're aiming for. remember these losders (losers who think they're leaders) in the next election. and God help you if they get elected to a higher office.

Wow Fox news needs to be medicated, he must be on the low end of the curve since he seems so resentful about his status. Look at the bright side Fox, you are still a couple of levels above lab animals in terms of usefulness to society. So you got that going for you. We are all sorry your life sucks but I will take comfort in knowing I have more money than you do. :) Would like a box of Kleenex and a dollar? That way you could call someone who cares and cry to them.